GOSSIP: The bible has no end to warnings about gossiping. As Christians we should NEVER engage in gossip and anything resembling such. Isnt it nice to whisper about someone behind their backs until that someone is YOU!!. What if you are an unmarried sister and living with a man..would you rather the church congregants to whisper about you behind your back or do you prefer that the genuine Christian speaks to you directly about it. It might hurt as it exposes sin but it is better than gossiping about a situation. The bible states that the words of a friend hurts but the words of an enemy is sweet like honey,,thats because a true friend would rather confront sin in your life than watch you continue in sin. Always waiting in the wings to hear some juicy piece of news or minding other peoples business distracts us from the purpose to which God calls us to congregate not to mention it cause people to shy away from gossipers or slanderers. People keep a close watch on YOURSELF! There is enough fires to out in your own life to be always finding time to add fuel to someone elses fire. If you are not going to help that person..dont hurt them by gossiping about them..even if you do it for years you will be held accountable for it on judgement day..the scriptures below is the position that God has on gossiping ..NOT JANINE ..but JESUS. There is no end to the dangers of gossip and the author of one article I found online had some interesting things to say about it. Here is his point of view which I agree with : It’s been said, “knowledge is power.” Unfortunately, many people like to spread damaging information or intimate details about others, whether true or not. This is what is called gossip. It used to be that people called gossip, “dishing the dirt.” Whatever it’s called, people use gossip to hurt people, in order to feel good about themselves, and to feel like they have power over others. If you know something juicy someone did over the weekend, it’s easy to feel like you have to tell others. We especially like it when we hear something that makes someone look bad. Celebrity bloggers and gossip magazines make millions of dollars off of this unfortunate reality. I’m sure you’ve encountered gossip. Some people seem to thrive on it. It’s time for you to decide you don’t want to have any part of it. The most dangerous part about gossip is that it steals another person’s reputation. A reputation is very fragile. When you gossip, you are helping to destroy something extremely valuable. An anonymous blogger wrote: “After telling my best friend, it leaked that I tried [cutting] once. Everyone thought I was even more of a freak.” If you think it’s time for you to decide you don’t want to have any part of gossip, here are some tips on how to do it… 1) Make a commitment you’re not going to gossip. Even though the temptation to gossip is powerful, you will always win when you choose not to use it. And really, with all gossip, there’s no way of knowing for sure what is true or not. Paul wrote: “I admit that I love spreading rumors. It’s all about telling lies about someone you don’t like. It usually works.” That’s the problem, it does work, almost every time. The most dangerous part about gossip is that it steals another person’s reputation. 2) Don’t listen to others when they gossip Gossip grows an audience. You simply being there listening to it adds to its appeal. If someone starts to tell you something gossipy, say, “I’m sorry, but I don’t feel comfortable talking about this person when they’re not here to defend themselves.” Not only will you break the gossip chain, but you also will gain the trust of other people, as someone who won’t spread rumors. With all gossip, there’s no way of knowing what is truth or lies. 3) Don’t judge people based on gossip. If you should hear gossip about someone you don’t know, you have two choices: allow the gossip to determine what you believe, or let your own personal experience determine what you think. The first time you have an experience with someone that is contrary to the gossip you’ve heard, you’ll be a lot more careful about spreading or believing gossip the next time you hear it. Katy wrote: “My best friend is someone who people used to say really bad things about. But once I got to know her, I learned the truth about her. I’m so glad I gave her a chance.” 4) Think before you speak. Before you repeat something you’ve heard about another person, think: does this really do any good for me to spread this information? Or am I just trying to “be in the know?” Is the information even true? Could I be hurting someone by telling this, even if it’s true? If the person you are talking to is not part of the problem, or part of the solution, there’s no need to tell them anything. Don’t associate with people who find such great joy in belittling others. 5) Stay away from people who gossip to you—they will gossip about you. Don’t associate with people who find such great joy in belittling others. Be very careful about what you choose to tell these people. If it’s a close friend, you might consider saying how you want to stop spreading gossip, and that you’d really like her help. There’s an old saying, “stick and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That’s not true. Being gossiped about can be extremely painful. If you don’t want it done to you, don’t do it to others. In the end, it never pays to gossip. Next week, I’m going to write about what you can do to rebuild a bad reputation destroyed by gossip, and then I’ll follow that up with ways you can protect your reputation. What have you done to repair a bad reputation? Please tell me your story. I look forward to hearing from you. SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 4:29 ESV / 464 helpful votes Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Proverbs 16:28 ESV / 301 helpful votes A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends. Proverbs 11:13 ESV / 244 helpful votes Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered. Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV / 242 helpful votes There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers. Proverbs 20:19 ESV / 201 helpful votes Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler. Titus 3:2 ESV / 196 helpful votes To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. Exodus 23:1 ESV / 162 helpful votes “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. Psalm 34:13 ESV / 150 helpful votes Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. James 4:11 ESV / 141 helpful votes Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. Luke 6:31 ESV / 141 helpful votes And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. Proverbs 26:20 ESV / 122 helpful votes For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases. Psalm 101:5 ESV / 119 helpful votes Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure. James 1:26 ESV / 117 helpful votes If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this persons religion is worthless. 1 Timothy 5:13 ESV / 107 helpful votes Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. Leviticus 19:16 ESV / 89 helpful votes You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord. Proverbs 10:18 ESV / 86 helpful votes The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. Ephesians 4:32 ESV / 73 helpful votes Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Proverbs 15:1 ESV / 71 helpful votes A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Exodus 20:16 ESV / 64 helpful votes “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. Romans 2:1 ESV / 63 helpful votes Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. Romans 1:29 ESV / 63 helpful votes They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, James 3:7-8 ESV / 62 helpful votes For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Matthew 7:12 ESV / 59 helpful votes “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Psalm 50:20 ESV / 56 helpful votes You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mothers son. Titus 3:1-3 ESV / 47 helpful votes Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. Philippians 1:27 ESV / 44 helpful votes Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, Romans 12:2 ESV / 41 helpful votes Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Proverbs 18:8 ESV / 39 helpful votes The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. 2 Corinthians 12:20 ESV / 37 helpful votes For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. Proverbs 11:3 ESV / 35 helpful votes The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. Philippians 4:8 ESV / 34 helpful votes Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 1 Timothy 5:12-14 ESV / 33 helpful votes And so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. Proverbs 26:22 ESV / 31 helpful votes The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body. Colossians 3:17 ESV / 29 helpful votes And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Romans 3:23 ESV / 26 helpful votes For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Psalm 15:1-5 ESV / 25 helpful votes A Psalm of David. O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent? Who shall dwell on your holy hill? He who walks blamelessly and does what is right and speaks truth in his heart; who does not slander with his tongue and does no evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend; in whose eyes a vile person is despised, but who honors those who fear the Lord; who swears to his own hurt and does not change; who does not put out his money at interest and does not take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Titus 3:10 ESV / 23 helpful votes As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 22 helpful votes For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Proverbs 25:18 ESV / 22 helpful votes A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow. Matthew 12:36 ESV / 21 helpful votes I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 3 John 1:9-10 ESV / 20 helpful votes I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. Galatians 5:13 ESV / 20 helpful votes For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Matthew 5:37 ESV / 17 helpful votes Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. 1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV / 12 helpful votes And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, John 16:1-33 ESV / 12 helpful votes “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Psalm 91:1-16 ESV / 10 helpful votes He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV / 6 helpful votes “A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. Proverbs 25:9-10 ESV / 5 helpful votes Argue your case with your neighbor himself, and do not reveal anothers secret, lest he who hears you bring shame upon you, and your ill repute have no end. Proverbs 14:15 ESV / 5 helpful votes The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. Revelation 22:1-21 ESV / 3 helpful votes Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. Proverbs 17:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. Helpful Not Helpful Proverbs 1:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 02:55:57 +0000